The lush rural region of Torrelles de Llobregat near Barcelona is in the midst of being developed and inhabited. Spanish firm, BBarquitectes has helped begin the process, by constructing an environmentally friendly public housing project, called Torrelles Public Housing. The block-style buildings required minimum construction and disruption of the local environment and are cooled by the wooden screen that shades them as well as natural valley air. .
Located a few miles inland from the seaside city of Barcelona, the Torrelles project is made up of 12 separate, low-rise apartment buildings that gently rise from the landscape. Built with respect to the topography of the region, each holds four apartments per floor. The sloping ground floors hold shaded storage and parking garages. Aside from blending in with the local environment, the dwellings were also designed to be eco-conscious. Each apartment is situated to face the valley, allowing optimal natural light as well as scenic views. Each block of apartments has one inner courtyard, which not only provides serene sitting areas, but also important natural cross-ventilation throughout the buildings.
Each dwelling also is fitted with a rich pine brise-soleil, or sun screen, which shades each terrace from the hot Spanish sun. Thebuildings optimize energy loss in the winter, and solar earnings in summer through strategic shading, awnings, and natural ventilation.
The Torrelles public housing project also satisfies an economical need for inhabiting the area, with low environmental impact or disruption.
+ Bbarquitectes
Via Arch Daily
